Best Merc aura for Javazon

Amazon
1

Hi people, here again to propose we discuss about the best Act2 Mercenary aura for Javazon.

His use is basically for Infinity, that provides a huge damage boost and it’s hard to use something better.

But all his natural auras seems kinda weak to unusefull:

Prayer - only useful if using a Cure helm on merc. Regen is slow on a 3k life pool and doenst make Java more tanky, and Phoenix gives a better life sustain. Actually, don’t know if is that usefull even with Cure.

Defiance - the aura i’m testing. Even with a low defense from gear, it gives a high boost on defense and reduces considerably the chance to being hit. Its also a way to deal with physical damage, since, if not using Stormshield, usually Javazons only have the 8% PDR from Enigma or CoH, wich is very low. Nothing really good, mas it seems the best aura to use.

Blessed Aim - another very underrated aura, that is very strong if the player wants to focus on Life Leech. Lightning Fury and Charged Strike works as an attack modifier, and works like a always hit. But, actually, your “physicial” attack from a thrown javelin, or on meelee hit, uses your Attack Rating. So, Javazons have a low chance to hit enemies afford from the skills, wich means things like Deadly Strike, Crushing Blow, Life and Mana leech, and others, are only good if you have a high chance to hit.

Thorns - i really don’t see any point on using it, we don’t need this kind of damage, and it seems a nice aura for tank builds that doesnt have enough damage, or for summoners. Not our case.

Holy Freeze - it’s a very good aura, very defensive, but I don’t like how it slower “herding” monsters. I like to group enemies near each other, and this aura makes it very slow to happen.

Might - the aura I was using. But, for the reasons explained on Blessed Aim, it doesn’t help that much. Also, Javazon’s physical damage is very low, making it not that great.

So, I think the best auras to use area Defiance and Blessed Aim.

What you think???

Sorry for the english.

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In the past, Blessed Aim was a no-go because it conflicted with Amazon’s Penetrate skill. Now I suppose its ok but you’re using Infinity that lowers Enemy Defense so needing Attack Rating is kind of moot. Prayer is only really useful if you have synergy auras as well(Cleansing + Meditation). You could use Cure but you won’t have Insight to grant Meditation so its not maximized. However, Cleansing is sooo nice to have for Amplify Damage/Decrepify and having double the Prayer output is nothing to scoff at.

Thorns was nerfed hard awhile back with respect to %Returned. Attacker takes Damage is nice I wont lie(since it procs on attack) but its not enough to warrant using it unless you were running a Necro/Druid with Summons and even then I would get it via Bramble. Might is kind of meh because the bulk of your damage is Lightning. It would help your Merc out I suppose but it’s not helping you so its up to you as I see it.

If you don’t use any of the above, that leaves Defiance and Holy Freeze. Defiance does boost your Defense(along with Merc’s Defense), but given you have Dodge/Avoid/Evade(without the dodge-lock), you don’t necessarily need it. Holy Freeze though is pretty good. Synergizes with Conviction and that slow is so strong on Bosses(provided you dont KO them instantly with Charged Strike).

Personally… use whatever you want, not what other people tell you to use. If you like Defiance, use it.

2 Likes
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Thanks for the informations! It ends being gameplay style

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Fully agree with Mr DarkHelmet.
I’ve also found if you work Light-Fury in conjunction with Light-Strike properly… “herding” is a waste of time.
I believe, Lightening Strike is a very under-estimated/under-rated skill for java and not discussed anywhere (that I have found).
Throw a Fury, then chase your Jav (literally run after it, even into packs) while holding down/activating Strike… and watch a screen or 2 melt as you skip along.
Holy Freeze is perfect for this, because after you run through a massive amount of monsters, reverse your direction, and everything that was not a target, is now a “sitting” target.

And, per DarkHelmet;

I just have found no one discusses Fury in conjunction with Strike… and so far, that is the most potent combo I have seen.
Charged is still for Bosses and bad boys…

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Very interesting, I’ll test this gameplay for sure. Thanks for replying!

Edit:

You are totally right about Lightning Strike. This skill is insane. 1-9k damage on a chain lightning that hits up to 49 (!!!) times is just too much. Im using it now, and my gameplay got a lot better.

I think the 3 main lightning javelin skills are better suited for the following purposes:

Lightning Fury - high density with monster near each other. Insane damage.
Lightning Strike - medium density, or monsters not near each other. It’s perfect for Travincal.
Charged Strike - Big monsters, individual damage.

But I still don’t know about Holy Freeze, tough. Even for LStrike situations, I like when monsters run into my char and they get nearest each other. It’s a very defensive skill, monster’s hit become much slower and helps a lot on survivability. Maybe for Ubers, but I dont really like it on Javazon. The best use for it is when monsters run away, like the fallens or that ones on Travincal.

Anyway, still testing things. Thanks a lot!

1 Like
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Awesome stuff, thanks for reporting back.
I’ll be honest I went with the Act2 Cold Merc early on before I had much power/gear/knowledge, and have just kept it that way…
If you find something you like better, I’d like to hear about it.

1 Like